WEBVTT ME OF THE PEOPLE WHOWERE EVACUATED FROM THIS BURNINGBUILDING.FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED FRAMES THATEXPLAINS AND THIS TOWERING SMOKELOOMED OVER THE CITY FOR HOURS.FLAMES VISIBLE FROM THE ROOF OFTHE HISTORICAL APARTMENTS ON ELDORADO STREET.>> WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE, ANDWERE LOOKING AROUND, WE FOUNDHIGHER.BASICALLY TOP TO BOTTOM.>> I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OFARGUMENTS IN THERE SO IRANINSIDE.>> JT WAS AS CROSSFIT JIM WHENHE RAN ACROSS THE STREET.HE RAN IN, FOUND A FIRE ALARMDOWNSTAIRS THAT SHE DIDN'T FINDA FIRE ALARM DOWNSTAIRS SO HERAN UPSTAIRS.>> I KNEW I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.>> HE SAID HE KNEW HE NEEDED TOTAKE ACTION.>> I RAN INSIDE, IT LOOKS LIKENOBODY WAS INSIDE SO I STARTEDBANGING ON DOORS AND THING,THERE IS A FIRE.I PULLED THE FIRE ALARM AND ONEOF THE VICTIMS CAME UP WITH ABIG GASH ON HIS HEAD.HE WAS SAYING SOMETHING EXPLODEDIN HIS ROOM.>> HE HELPED TO MAKE IT DOWN TOSAFETY, BUT ALL NOT -- NOT ALLRESIDENTS WERE RESPONDING TO THEALARM.>> WE WERE STILL PULLING PEOPLEOUT 20 MINUTES IN.DURING OUR SEARCHES, THERE WEREPEOPLE THAT DIDN'T RESPOND TOTHE FIRE ALARM IN THE BUILDING.WE BROKE OPEN DOORS TO GETPEOPLE OUT.>> BREANNE WILKINSON IS THEMANAGER AND THE LIVES HERE.SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HERTENANT.>> I'VE OTHER TENANTS IN THERE.

The blaze broke out about 7:20 a.m. at the Mayfair Apartments at 807 North El Dorado St.

Crews battled heavy fire on the third and fourth floors of the building, as well as the attic space, according to the fire department.

KCRA Skycam

Firefighters went through each apartment on every floor and forced every door open in an effort to get all residents out safely, Battalion Chief Brandon Doolan said.

During a second search of the building, fire crews found a person still sleeping even though all the fire alarms and sprinkler systems were going off, Doolan said.

That residents was carried down from the fourth floor to safety.

"That's why we take our time and make sure we get through every floor and open up every single door, whether it's locked or not and get in there," Doolan said.

JT Tienda, the owner of a Crossfit gym located across the street from the apartment building, was hailed as a hero when he pulled the fire alarm and began alerting people in the building.

"I saw the smoke, and I saw it was kind of growing, so I knew I had to take action," Tienda said. "I ran inside and started pounding on doors to try and wake people up. At that point, I noticed a guy with a gash on his head. He told me there was an explosion in his room. I walked him downstairs. I pulled the fire alarm and tried to alert as many people as I could while I was in the building."